Extraction tables and downdraft benches shine when work is confined to a bench or jig and the dust source sits just centimetres from a capture slot. In these cases, surface capture stops dust escaping in the first place, often outperforming room air scrubbers that only act after particles are airborne.

Where surface capture wins

• Bench sanding, routing, and trimming small components
• Hand-finishing, deburring and light grinding of metal or composites
• Mixing powders, pigments or resins where spills and puffs occur at the worktop
• Drilling fixings on a bench, or careful mortice and tenon clean-up
• Rework on small castings and 3D prints with brittle residues

Because the tool and workpiece stay close to the slots, capture efficiency is high and less airflow is needed than whole-room control.

Set-up that actually works

• Position the task within the table’s capture zone and use simple jigs to keep pieces over the slots.
• Fit shrouds or side panels to block cross-drafts and improve face capture.
• Use an H-Class vacuum and H13/H14 final filtration when dealing with respirable dusts such as silica or hard wood dust.
• Specify airflow under load, not free-air figures; clogged filters cut capture quickly.
• Keep duct runs short and airtight; check with a quick smoke test to visualise flow towards the table.

For tasks that occasionally generate plumes beyond the bench, supplement with an air scrubber or negative air machine to protect the wider area. Units such as the MAXVAC Dustblocker can provide continuous background air filtration when sized correctly.

When airborne control is better

If work is dispersed (e.g., cutting large boards across the room) or multiple trades operate simultaneously, room-level control and LEV at tools will outperform a single bench. Use the bench for fine work and localised sources, and deploy air scrubbers to trim overall particulate levels.

Housekeeping and verification

• Avoid sweeping or compressed air. Use an industrial H-Class vacuum for clean-down.
• Change pre-filters on schedule; blocked filters reduce face velocity and let dust escape.
• Use a simple particulate meter to spot-check before and after tasks; adjust shrouds or airflow if readings do not drop.

Practical takeaways

• Choose a bench when the task stays within a small capture zone.
• Seal leaks and verify with smoke; manage airflow under load.
• Use H13/H14 filtration for respirable or carcinogenic dusts.
• Add an air scrubber for background control if multiple sources exist.
• Vacuum-only housekeeping prevents re-agitation.

Used correctly, extraction tables prevent dust at the source, cut clean-up times, and reduce exposure without relying solely on room recirculation.